NEW DELHI: In a move that could forebear a possible alliance in future, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will visit Kerala to take part in an event organised by the Twenty20 political party.
The corporate-backed political party had invited Kejriwal to attend their annual function on May 15 as their chief guest. The visit comes amid speculations that AAP will join hands with Twenty20 to field a joint candidate in the forthcoming Thrikkakkara assembly byelection.
This will be Kejriwal’s first visit to Kerala after he won the Delhi elections in 2020. The visit is significant because there are reports that AAP is looking to expand its presence in the country. After its important win in Punjab, it is now looking at South India, especially in Kerala.
“I am grateful to Arvind Kejriwal for graciously accepting our invitation. Like the AAP, Twenty20 believes in grassroots level strengthening of Indian political systems. AAP has shown parties like us a way to thrive and garner electoral success. AAP’s models of governance in both Delhi and Punjab have gained praise internationally and presented lessons worth adapting to Indian politicians,” Twenty20 founder Sabu Jacob said.
Twenty20 was founded by Jacob the managing director of the world’s second-largest infant garment manufacturer Kitex. It started as a CSR organisation but pivoted into becoming a political party. It made its mark by winning the Kizhakkambalam gram panchayat, much to the surprise of people across Kerala’s political landscape.